Folding chair



(No Model.)

J. W. BQWEN.

FOLDING CHAIR.

No. 445,156. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

nrnnr OFFICE.

JOIIX \V. BOW'EN, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,156, dated January27, 1891.

Application filed March 4, 1890. Serial No. 342,675. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BOWEN, a citi zen of the United States,residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable-others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of foldingchairs commonly known as camp-chairs, and it consists in certain novelfeatures of the device shown in the annexed drawings, as will behereinafter set forth.

In the drawings just referred to, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved chair with the seat fabric removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the chair, and Figs. 3 and 4- are similar views with the near legremoved, the said Figs. 2, 3, and 4 illustrating the movement of theseveral parts in the operation of folding the chair. Fig. 5 is a detailview of the latch.

Referring to the drawings particularly by letter, A B designate the legsof the chair, which are pivoted together at (Z and are braced by thebars 11, as clearly shown. The back is composed of the side bars E andthe crossbars D, connecting the same, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1,and it is pivoted to the legs by means of pins 7c, passed through theside bars E and the upper ends of the rear legs A.

The seat 0 is composed of any suitable flexible material, such ascarpet, canvas, or the like, and is secured to and extends between thecross-bar I, connecting the upper ends of the front legs B, and thecross-bar F, connectin g the lower ends of the bars E, the said crossbarF having its ends projected beyond the said bars E to form the rests G,which strike against the rear edges of the rear legs near the upper endsof the same, and thereby prevent the back swinging rearward when thechair is in use.

L designates a latch, which is pivot-ed at its upper end to the outerside of the bar E, between the pivot of the rear leg and rest G, asshowmand this latch is provided near its free end with an L-shaped slotZ2, engaging a pin 0 011 the side of the front leg B.

c is a pin on the side of the leg l3,below the free end of the latch,and which is adapted to come into contact with the latch when the chairis being folded to disengage the latch from the pin 0.

In practice when the chair is in use it is set up, as shown in Fig. 1,and will be firmly supported by the latch engaging the pin 0 and therests G impinging against the rear legs. hen it is desired to fold thechair,it is necessary only to swing the upper end of the back forwardand downward, turning the back 011 its pivotal connection with rearlegs. The latch will thus be drawn rearward and the front legs caused tofold upon the rear legs. hen the back has been swung nearly over uponthe front legs, as shown in Fig. 3, the pins 6 will impinge against thelatches and release them from the pins 0, and the back will then foldflat against the front legs. It will thus be seen that the chair will befolded into an exceedingly compact form and that this result isaccomplished by a single continuous motion on the part of the operator,who manipulates the entire chair through a single part. Of course insetting up the chair the motion is the reverse of that j ust described,it being necessary only to swing the back upward and rearward.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that I have provideda chair that is very simple in its construction, efficient in itsoperation, and which is strong and durable. The chair can be quickly andeasily folded and set up for use without necessitating the manualoperation of a large number of parts, and its advantages are thought tobe evident.

-While the seat in my device serves to some extent to hold the legs inposition, the latch is an essential feature in accomplishing thisresult, as it effectually prevents accidental movement in eitherdirection. The seat becomes worn and weakened through use, andconsequently when a heavy weight is placed suddenly upon it it is liableto give way and permit the chair to fold. This danger is efficientlyguarded against by employing the latch.

Having thus described my invention, what pins on the front legs engagingsaid slots, and I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patlateral pinson said legs below the front ends ent, isof the latches adapted toimpinge against the The combination of the legs pivoted tosame,substantially as described. 15 5 gether, the back pivoted to the upperends of In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the rear legs, theseat connecting the upper the presence of two witnesses. ends of thefront legs and the lower end of g I the back, the latches having theirrear ends JOHN BOTWEN' pivoted to the sides of the back near the lowerlVitn esses: 10 end of the same and provided near their front .8. A.FAIRBANK,

ends with longitudinal L-shaped slots, lateral CHAS. A. BARNES.

